Morocco: Kenitra–Marrakech high-speed line targeted for November 2029, Casablanca–Marrakech in 1h10

Morocco is extending its high-speed line. After Tangier–Kenitra (Al Boraq, 2018), ONCF is building Kenitra–Marrakech via Rabat and Casablanca: around 430 km of new line, launched by King Mohammed VI in April 2025, with opening targeted for November 2029 — seven months before kick-off.

The announced journey times

• Tangier–Rabat: 1 hour
• Tangier–Casablanca: 1h40
• Tangier–Marrakech: 2h40 to 2h45
• Casablanca–Marrakech: about 1h10 (against 2h30 to 2h40 today)
• Rabat–Marrakech: about 1h45 (times announced by ONCF, as reported by Wikipedia)

The World Cup stations

Two stops are planned specifically for the tournament: Benslimane, for the Grand Stade Hassan II, and Hay Ryad, near the Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium in Rabat. An underground station is also being built beneath the new terminal at Mohammed V airport in Casablanca (delivery 2029), which would put Rabat 30 minutes and Marrakech less than an hour from the airport, according to Médias24.

Where the works stand (March 2026)

Land fully acquired, around 3,500 hectares cleared, 4 million m³ of earthworks completed, the Agdal–Aïn Atiq trackbed 65% done, 1.5 million tonnes of ballast and 60,000 tonnes of rail delivered. The cost is MAD 53 billion excluding rolling stock, plus MAD 14 billion to modernise the network. On the trains: 18 Alstom Avelia Horizon trainsets (€781 million), 40 CAF intercity trains, 60 regional TNR units and 50 Hyundai Rotem suburban trainsets.

And around it

The programme also includes commuter rail networks in Casablanca (18 stations), Rabat (12 stations) and Marrakech, for MAD 5 billion. One caveat, the only one that matters: “targeted for November 2029” is not “delivered”. We will follow the milestones on site.